Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - For the second consecutive occasion, the Vallarta Botanical Garden has been distinguished as one of the "Top 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For" by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council. The award was presented to Vallarta Botanical Garden's Operation's Director, Jesús Reyes on March 17th during the North American Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Upon receiving the award, Jesús gave a heartfelt response, "It's a great privilege for the Vallarta Botanical Garden to hold this award once again. As a Mexican citizen from the Vallarta area, I hope this sends more Mexican nationals, especially local Vallartenses, to visit us. Sometimes we take for granted what is most important to us and this includes our local forests and the great diversity of amazing plants that they harbor. When we allow nature to inspire us we become its stewards and caretakers."

Celebrated every other year, the Garden Tourism Awards highlight North America's most dynamic garden experiences and Garden Tourism's limitless potential. The Canadian Garden Tourism Council, in consultation with a North American jury, were charged with determining the 2015 recipients. And the 2015 winners were...

10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For
(in alphabetical order)

1. Butchart Gardens - Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
2. Chanticleer Garden - Wayne, Pennsylvania
3. Denver Botanic Gardens - Denver, Colorado
4. Desert Botanical Garden - Phoenix, Arizona
5. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden - Miami, Florida
6. Huntington Botanical Gardens - San Marino, California
7. Jardin Botanico de Culiacan - Culiacan, Mexico
8. Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
9. Montréal Botanical Garden - Montréal, Québec
10. Vallarta Botanical Gardens - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Neil Gerlowski, the Vallarta Botanical Garden's executive director, commented on this selection by saying, "On behalf of the Vallarta Botanical Garden's staff, board, and volunteers, we are once again thrilled and honored to receive the distinction as one of the 'Top 10 Gardens in North America Worth Traveling For' by the Canadian Garden Tourism Council. In a country with dozens of fantastic and unique garden experiences we are also humbled by this designation. Recognition such as this undoubtedly serves to bolster tourism to our region with an emphasis on gardening, beauty, and ecology thus providing incredible benefits to our community."

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens are also celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Offering something to keep every age group happy; from a Rose Garden for the romantic to jungle trails for the adventurous and a Carnivorous Plants area for the younger generation, the Gardens are "Where Mexican plants meet the imagination."